But defeat leaves Wolves needing to beat Brighton, while hoping Barnsley and Peterborough both lose.

There was a mood of resignation at Molineux long before the final whistle precipitated a pitch invasion from around 500 fans. They protested against owner Steve Morgan before being quickly dispersed by police.

Happier hunting ground

Wolves had won 20 of the previous 27 meetings between the two sides. But the Clarets have improved that record recently - this was their third win at Molineux in six visits.

The home side had earlier made a bright start but were stunned on eight minutes when Burnley scored with their first real attack, Ings curling home a low left-foot shot from the corner of the box.

Wolves did not fold, however, and caused several moments of panic in the Burnley box.

But it was the visitors who came closest to scoring again when Ings's low cross was allowed to travel across the goal-line without anyone able to apply the finishing touch.

Wolves boss Dean Saunders responded by making a double substitution on the hour, gambling on Bakary Sako, supposedly fit again after a hamstring injury that had looked to have ruled him out for the season, and Dicko.

Trading places?

Wolves' plunge to within a point of relegation came as Doncaster Rovers, the club Dean Saunders left in January to take over at Molineux, clinched promotion from League One.

"I am pleased for them that they have won the league," said Saunders.

"I walked into a mess there and had to sort that out. They cleared the decks and have come back up to the Championship and it's onwards and upwards for them."

And 10 minutes later he went for one last throw of the dice by bringing on Northern Irish teenager Liam McAlinden for his professional debut in place of Stephen Hunt.

McAlinden almost produced instantly when he curled a left-foot shot just wide with his first touch, then Karl Henry and Tongo Doumbia both fired just wide before young Burnley midfielder David Edgar made a superb block tackle to clear a six-yard box scramble.

Dicko briefly offered hope when he volleyed in from four yards with two minutes of normal time left but it turned out to be too little, too late as Wolves suffered their ninth defeat in 19 matches under Saunders.

Wolves manager Dean Saunders:

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"I'm devastated we haven't got the right result. We've let two terrible goals in. And it's stacked up against us, but we're not dead yet.

"It's out of our hands now, which it wasn't before today, but stranger things have happened. Something happens every year. We've just got to try and make sure it happens to us.

"But we should never be in the position that we are in. Forget this game, we have got ourselves in a terrible position."

Burnley boss Sean Dyche:

"There is a big expectation here at Wolves. The demand from the fans about what the club should be can affect players and performances and make it awkward for the home team. Our game plan was to try and make the crowd nervous and hopefully make the opposition nervous.

"But we have our own expectations and I'm pleased with the way that the side found the clarity of thought to play rather than get involved in a scrap. There were some very good individual performances and obviously I was very pleased tactically at how we managed with 10 men.

"People who have seen us a lot will know that we have had some unbelievable bad luck. I've never seen as many big decisions go against us, we've had injuries and we have six contracts up. But we have managed to guide that group over the line."

The ball is crossed by Stephen Ward, Header from close range by Matt Doherty misses to the right of the goal.

36:56

The ball is swung over by Stephen Ward, Kevin Doyle takes a shot. Save by Lee Grant.

35:41

A cross is delivered by Stephen Hunt, Bjorn Sigurdarson has a headed effort at goal from just inside the penalty area that misses to the right of the goal.

30:45

The assistant referee signals for offside against Martin Paterson. Dorus De Vries restarts play with the free kick.

29:37

The ball is crossed by Kieran Trippier, Dorus De Vries makes a save.

26:58

Stephen Ward crosses the ball, blocked by Danny Ings. Bjorn Sigurdarson takes a inswinging corner to the near post, clearance made by Jason Shackell. Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Bjorn Sigurdarson, Headed effort from inside the box by Matt Doherty misses to the right of the target.

26:47

Centre by Stephen Ward, clearance made by Jason Shackell.

26:37

The ball is delivered by David Edgar.

22:53

Kaspars Gorkss gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Danny Ings. Free kick taken by Dean Marney.

22:18

Unfair challenge on Karl Henry by Dean Marney results in a free kick. Jack Robinson restarts play with the free kick.

21:19

Sam Vokes takes a shot from 12 yards. Save by Dorus De Vries.

20:19

Stephen Ward produces a cross, Danny Ings manages to make a clearance.

19:39

The ball is swung over by Stephen Ward, Jason Shackell makes a clearance. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Stephen Hunt from the right by-line, clearance made by Jason Shackell.

18:49

Free kick crossed left-footed by Stephen Hunt from left channel, Jason Shackell manages to make a clearance.

Goal! - Danny Ings - Wolves 0 - 1 Burnley Danny Ings scores a goal from the edge of the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Wolverhampton 0-1 Burnley.

6:53

Kieran Trippier delivers the ball,

6:11

Danny Lafferty takes a shot from long distance which goes wide of the right-hand post.

5:54

Corner taken right-footed by Danny Ings from the right by-line to the near post, Roger Johnson manages to make a clearance.

5:40

Danny Ings takes a shot. Roger Johnson gets a block in.

5:10

Corner taken right-footed by Danny Ings.

4:43

The ball is sent over by Karl Henry, save by Lee Grant.

3:42

The ball is crossed by Karl Henry, Kieran Trippier manages to make a clearance. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Stephen Hunt played to the near post, Danny Ings manages to make a clearance. Inswinging corner taken by Bjorn Sigurdarson from the right by-line, Jason Shackell makes a clearance.

3:34

Kevin Doyle delivers the ball, clearance made by Danny Lafferty.

3:10

Tongo Doumbia takes a shot. Save by Lee Grant.

0:02

Dean Marney concedes a free kick for a foul on Kevin Doyle. Stephen Hunt crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance by Dean Marney.

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Comments

As a NZ Wolves supporter I make some observations. First, Mick McCarthy's sacking seemed like a panic reaction rather than a reasoned response to a crisis. A few very good seasoned players have left, eg. Kightly and Stearman, For injuries this was the season from hell. Wolves have been playing effectively their no. 3 goalkeeper most of the season. Take it on the chin and get back up next time!

If ever management choices and decisions created the decline of the club this is the classic case. One bad decision followed by another. There is a gap in the spirit of the club and some players played as if they were too good for the Championship. Too many excuses not enough clearance of deadwood. They have paid for their folly. Sad decline.

We can all point the finger of blame, but had Wayne Hennessey not been out injured all season would we have conceded as many goals ?

More stats reveal we are 15th both at home and away on goals scored, on goals conceded we rank 11th away from home yet fall to 21st at home, with a similar story on matches won a creditable 8th equals away & 24th and bottom at home !

The senior management of Wolves have to take the blame. The sacking of MM and his subsequent replacement was an object lesson in how to badly manage a company. Relegation is now 99% certain so more players will leave and this once mighty club will be struggling to stop the rot on 2013/14.

After the 1-5 Roy Hodgson warned wolves not to sack MM. You would have still gone down BUT he would have kept the team organised. If you look at Wolves point total it would keep you up most other years and I reckon MM would have got another 15 points out of that squad, which is about right. Your problems lie with two changes of manager, particular Saunders learning curve at a crucial stage

The club bemoaned it's luck last summer instead of facing reality. They should have either cashed in on their squad and got in an experienced Championship manager and given him a good budget OR kept the whole squad together under Terry Connor and set about regaining their PL status. They did neither,they sold a few very good players,kept a few others and gambled on inexperienced managers twice.

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